Electric switch



Q Feb. 13, 1940. H. VAN V'ALKENBURG 2,190,299

ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed Feb. 19, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 1940- H. 1.. VANVALKENBURG 2,190,299

ELEcTIc SWITCH Filed Feb. 19, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I5s./ I /4 INVENTOR.#9717021 krz/Z llezzizzg A TTORNE Y.

Patented Feb. 13, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRIC SWITCHHermon L. Van Valkenburg, Wauwatosa, Wis., assignor to Square D Company,Detroit, Mich, a corporation of Michigan This invention relates todevices for making and breaking electric circuits and more particularlyto electric switches of the push-button type.

One object of this invention is to provide an electric switch of thepush-button type of simple form in which the operating push-button orplunger is resiliently connected to the movable contact to be movablerelative thereto and to maintain a resilient contact pressure in thepressed position of the push-button.

Another object of this invention is to provide an electric switch of thepush-button type which shall be substantially enclosed and in which thestationary contacts shall have portions inside and outside of theenclosure and have surfaces slidably interlocked with surfaces withinthe interior of the switch and maintained in position by a cover platepermitting ready sliding removal 20 of the stationary contacts uponremoval of the plate.

A further object of this invention is to provide a standardized form ofelectric switch of the push-button type providing a plurality of termi-26 nal connector positions and utilizing stationary contacts carryingterminal connections which are interchangeable and in which all partsexcept the stationary contacts are standard to all the forms of theswitch and with the body portion 80 of the switch provided with meanscooperating with the terminal connectors 'in their various positions. H

Other objects and features of this invention will be readily apparent tothose skilled in the 85 art from the following'specification andappended drawings illustrating certainpreferred embodiments of theinvention in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of an electric switch according tothe present invention.

40 Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the electric switch shown inFigure l.

Figure 3 is an enlarged view similar to Figure 2 but with the partsbroken away to show internal mechanism. 45 Figure 4 is a view similar toFigure 3 but showing the parts in position with thepush-buttondepressed.

Figure 5 is an enlarged bottom plan view of the switch. 50 Figure 6 is asectional view taken on the'line VI-VI of Figure '4. Figure 7 is a frontelevational view of a slightly modified form of switch particularlyadapted for .use as an interlocking switch and showing a 56 modifiedterminal arrangement.

Figure 8 is a side elevational view of the switch shown in Figure 9.

Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 8 but with parts broken away toshow internal parts.

Figure 10 is a bottom plan view of the modi- 5 fied switch.

Figure 11 is a side elevational view similar to Figure 8 but showing amodified terminal arrangement.

rangement. 15

The switch shown in Figures 1 to 6, inclusive, comprises a body portionI which may be comprised of molded insulating material and provided witha pair of hollow extensions 2 and 3 at its front corners. A chamber 4 isprovided substantially centrally of the body portion and is providedwith an open side as shown. Upon the front and back surfaces of thechamber are disposed stationary contacts 5, 6, I and 8. These surfacesof the chamber are provided with ridges 9 and H and with notches I2slidably interlocking the surfaces on the stationary contact andpreventing movement thereof in any direction other than toward the openside of the chamber.

A cover plate l3, attached by studs l4, closes the chamber 4 and engageswith notched surfaces on the stationary contacts to maintain them inposition within the chamber. Within the chamber 4 and between theopposed pairs of stationary contacts is mounted a contact plate 15having opposite contact faces at its ends adapted to bridge therespective pairs of stationary contacts. The central portion of thecontact plate is provided with an opening which loosely receives ahollow cylindrical member l6 having a flange ll disposed at one endthereof. Through the cylindrical member l6 extends a cylindrical portionWon the operating plunger or push-button. The back face of the back wallof the body portion l is provided with an opening I!) adapted of thecontact plate I5 and the abutment formed by the enlargement 2|. Thefront face of the body portion is apertured to slidably receive theportion 2| on the plunger.

The projections 2 and 3 at the front of the body portion have largeopenings at one side and apertures for attaching screws at their frontand opposite side. The attaching screws may be threaded directly intothese apertures or may be threaded into metallic inserts or nuts placedin the hollow portion of the extensions and there waxed in place. In theform shown in the drawings, the attaching studs 30 have been placed atthe front of the projections and a cover .plate 25 is, shown in placesurrounding and guiding the portion 22 on the push-button plunger. Acotter pin or other limiting means 26 extending beyond the push-button22 may be provided to prevent outward removal thereof. When the pushbutton is installed in an enclosing box, the cover plate 25 may beomitted' and its place taken by the wall of the box against which thepush-button switch is mounted.

As shown in Figures 1 to-6, inclusive, the stationary'contacts 5 and 6have straight extensions terminating in terminal connectors 21 and 28and the stationary contacts I and 8 have angle extensions terminating interminal connectors 29 and 3|.

The operationof the push-button as shown and described should be readilyapparent. the normal position of the push-button is shown moreparticularly in Figure 3 in which the contact plate i5 is held inposition bridging the contacts 5 and 6 by spring 23. As the pushbuttonis depressed the enlargement 2| positively engages the cylindricalmember l8 and pushes it toward the rear wall of the body portion, thuscompressing the spring 23. After the contact plate is engages thebridging contacts 1 and 8,

further movement 01' the push-button will move the flange H on themember I6 away from the contact plate l5 and the spring 24 will becompressed to exert contact pressure between the contacts on plate l5and the stationary contacts and 8 in the position shown in Figure 4.Upon release of the push-button the parts'will resume the position shownin Figure 3,

It is understood, of course, that should a single throw switch bedesired either pair of cooperating stationary contacts may be omitted tosecure single throw normally "on or normally "ofl" operation.

One feature of the present invention resides in the provision of astandardized switch pro viding multiplicity of terminal connectorpositions by utilizing a large number of common ard body pdrtion theback and top and bottom' exterior walls of the body portion are providedwith recesses -22 more particularly shown in Figure 5 of the drawings.In the switch of applie cants invention all partsexcept the stationarycontact and terminal connector elements are standard to the variousiorms and only these stationary contacts need be interchanged toproaioaaoa 'the shape of the interior portion of the stationary contactremains the same as it is only the exterior portions which are varied toplace the terminal connectors at various positions with respect to thebody portion of the switch.

While certain positions are illustrated, it is obvious that the exteriorportions of the contact elements may take various other shapes and thatvarious combinations may be used to produce any desired terminalarrangement.

The switch structure illustrated in Figures '7 to 13, inclusive, is inall respects the same as that specifically described heretofore exceptthat the portion 22 of the push-button plunger and the plate 25 areomitted and the cylindrical portion 18 is extended through the back walland is there provided with a split washer or other retaining means 33preventing withdrawal of the plunger. This switch while also of thepushbutton type, is especiallyadapted for use as an auxiliary switchwhich may be attached to a contactor or automatic starter or similarelectrical device and mechanically operated by an arm or bar movablewith the main switch and may be used to provide electrical interlockingfor the main switch.

While certain preferred embodiments of the invention have beenspecifically. disclosed, it is understood that the invention is notlimited thereto as many variations will be readily apparent to thoseskilled in the art and the invention is to be given its broadestpossible interpretation within the terms of the following claims. 7

What is claimed is:

1. An electric switch of the push-button type comprising spacedstationary contacts, a contact plate adapted to bridge said stationarycontacts, an element slidably projecting through said plate and having aflange at one end engageable therewith, a spring biasing said flangeagainst said plate and said plate to one operating position, anoperating plunger having an abutment engaging said member for movementagainst said bias, and a second spring disposed between said plungerabutment and said contact plate and providing resilient pressure on saidplate in a second operating position under the influence of saidplunger.

2. An electric switch of the push-button type comprising opposed pairsof spaced stationary contacts, a' movable contact plate adapted tobridge said pairs of contacts in its extreme positions,-a hollowcylindrical element slidably proiecting through said plate and having aflange at oneend engageable therewith,- a spring biasing said flangeagainst said plate and said plate against one pair of stationarycontacts, an operating plunger having a cylindrical portion disposed insaid element and an abutment positively engageable with the end of saidelement remote from its flange, and a second spring disposed betweensaid abutment and said contact plate and exerting a resilient pressurebetween said plate and the other, pair of stationary contacts in thdepressed position of said plunger. HERMON L. VAN VALKENBURG.

